Episode # 313 – Bhagawan Krishna kills Narakaasura – Significance of the “Deepaavali” festival!!!

In the previous episode, we had witnessed the deeper significance of why Bhagawan Krishna got into several marriages during His divine incarnation. We’ve seen that these marriages are not merely worldly ones, but a divine union of the Jeevatma with the Paramatma. All these people who are closely associated with Bhagawan Krishna during this incarnation, are all devotees of the highest level. It is thus to reward their focussed devotion and high levels of spiritual progress, is Bhagawan Krishna giving them an opportunity to spend the rest of their lifetime with Him. We should look at it in this right sense, rather than proclaiming and getting carried away by the false narrative that Bhagawan Krishna was a womanizer. We should understand this point very importantly here, and of course, I’m repeatedly emphasizing this point time and again, whenever the context comes, so that it gets reinforced into our minds.

Moving on thus, we now enter into the next important event of Bhagawan Krishna neutralizing the Raakshasa by name “Narakaasura”. Once upon a time, Indra (Leader of the Devas) was under immense torture from this Narakaasura and he was making Indra run for his life and shelter. At one point in time, Indra couldn’t fend himself and thus, came to Bhagawan Krishna seeking for help and intervention. Narakaasura meanwhile, had abducted all the divine ornaments of Aditi Devi (Mother of the Devas), Varuna, Vaayu, etc. and his atrocities were on the rise every day. Hearing all this from Indra, Bhagawan Krishna asks him, where is this Narakaasura and how does He see him in person. Indra replies that Narakaasura is at a place called “Praag-jyotisha-pura”. Indra explains that if Narakaasura has to be defeated, they’ve to go to this particular place, wage a war against him and defeat him.

Accordingly, Bhagawan Krishna accepted the mission. He takes His wife Satyabhama along with Him on His “Garuda” vehicle and starts His long journey towards Praag-jyotisha-pura. As Bhagawan Krishna nears the place, there was another Raakshasa by name “Mura”, who comes in the front. Bhagawan Krishna wages a bitter battle against this Mura and finally manages to kill him. This is why we have a divine name for Bhagawan Krishna as “Muraari”. We often would have come across this name in many slokas that we chant for Bhagawan Vishnu. In many devotional songs too, this name would often keep repeating – “Hey Muraare”, “Hey Muraari”, etc. Thus, it is only when Bhagawan Krishna destroys this Raakshasa called “Mura”, He gets this divine name.

As Bhagawan Krishna proceeds further, He sees Narakaasura coming towards Him. Meanwhile, as Mura was killed, Narakaasura had got the news that a treacherous enemy was approaching him. Thus, he got himself prepared for the assault and came in front of Bhagawan Krishna. A bitter battle followed between the two. Narakaasura was an extremely powerful Raakshasa who had the guts to send Indra and the Devas running for their lives and money! It was a long fought and a bitter battle and both Bhagawan Krishna and Narakaasura proved to be invincible to each other. Finally as time flew by, Bhagawan Krishna emerged more powerful and with His divine powers, put Narakaasura to death.

It is at this time of death, Narakaasura realizes who has come in front of him. It was Bhagawan Vishnu Himself! Upon seeing Bhagawan Krishna standing victorious in front of him, Narakaasura realizes his folly and seeks unconditional apology to Him. He falls on Bhagawan Krishna’s feet and says thus, “Oh Bhagawan! Please accept my unconditional apologies for giving lot of trouble to you and Indra. I’ve got the punishment for whatever fault I committed and I gleefully accept it. However, I have only one request – Please, let the world celebrate my day of death with all possible lights, sweets, etc. in such a way that the darkness has disappeared and brightness is going to dawn the world. Let it be a colourful celebration of victory of good over evil.” Upon hearing this from Narakaasura, Bhagawan Krishna grants him the wish, and with it, Narakaasura falls on the ground dead.

Thus, it is to fulfil Narakasura’s last wish, we celebrate this particular day as “Deepavali”. This normally comes during the “Chaturdashi” day of the month of “Aippasi” in the Tamil calendar. Normally the “Amaa-vaasya” (No moon day) too falls on this day, (of course, plus or minus one day here and there) and this is the day wherein we celebrate the grand festival called “Deepavali” or “Diwali”. In the northern part of India, Diwali is celebrated by performing an elaborate “Lakshmi Puja”, along with distribution of sweets, savouries and bursting crackers. In the southern part of India, it is believed that the river Ganges (Mother Ganga) visits every household and blesses all of us. This is why we get up early in the morning and do the “Ganga-Snaan” (Taking a holy dip in the river Ganges). Subsequent to this, we wear new sets of clothes, burst firecrackers, exchange sweets and savouries with one another, and together show a strength of unity amongst all of us.

Thus, as Bhagawan Krishna emerges victorious against Narakaasura, the entire world celebrates with lot of grandeur. Indra was pleased as well, as Bhagawan Krishna had undertaken this pursuit only for protecting him and the Devas. Thus, Indra calls Bhagawan Krishna for a grand feast for lunch! What happens next? Let us wait till the next episode to find out! Stay tuned! 😊